Chaplain vacancy at UCC may be hit by jobs embargo

THE country's second-largest university is seeking a new Catholic chaplain but might not be able to fill it because of a public service jobs embargo. University College Cork (UCC) advertised the post this week and is seeking to appoint somebody with a degree in theology, pastoral care, spirituality or chaplaincy. But filling the job – which has a salary of between €50,000 and €60,000 – will be subject to the same strict criteria applied to all third-level appointments because of a recruitment ban in the public service.

A moratorium has been placed on the filling of any vacancies in third-level colleges, or the creation of new posts under the headings of teaching/academic or technical, administrative and other services. Under the employment control framework circulated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in July, the main exceptions will be allowed for academic posts and for only up to one-third of any such vacancies.

A UCC spokesperson confirmed yesterday that the filling of the post will be subject to the terms of the framework and that the HEA is aware of the job vacancy being advertised.

For posts in the technical, administrative and other services categories, the HEA rules state applications for any exceptions to the ban on filling vacancies must be made to it first. The job must then be sanctioned by the Department of Finance, through the Department of Education.

The post of Catholic chaplain has become vacant due to a retirement, and a contract that expired at the end of the summer in the chaplaincy service was not renewed. The job description includes a requirement to be a practicing Catholic, with experience of working with the 18 to 25-year-olds age group, and/or with older adults in pastoral settings.

A range of management, administrative, leadership and negotiating skills are also listed as key characteristics of the successful candidate.